[Edit35]

God says that he made the earth and everything in it. Then he made man in his image.

True enough.

But the Bible does not tell us HOW the earth was created, or HOW man was created, does it.

Many creationists simply presume that the word "created" means that God snapped his fingers, and everthing was thus.

In the absense of a clearer explanation in the Bible, why is it so hard to believe that God created some creatures over a long period of time.

If God knows the number of hairs on a given man's head, then why does it not make sense that God also guides and forms the biological process in which DNA and genetics change and evolve.

And given that God uses many allegorical type stories in the Bible to get across his point, why is it so hard to fathom that some passages which you consider to be literal are also allegorical.

[Jaysun]

In the absense of a clearer explanation in the Bible, why is it so hard to believe that God created some creatures over a long period of time.

If God knows the number of hairs on a given man's head, then why does it not make sense that God also guides and forms the biological process in which DNA and genetics change and evolve.

I'm not arguing (or agreeing with) the idea that God created some creatures over a long period. As you said, the Bible isn't clear so we don't know for sure. I'm saying that man was created man - not something else that evolved into man. Scripture specifically says that God created man in his image in the beginning. Not only does the Bible make this clear in Genesis 1:26-30, it was confirmed by Christ in Matthew 19:4 and Mark 10:6.

I would also point to the obvious chasm between man and beast. Aside from the advances that we've made, man is the only creature that has a God conscience or religious nature.